One of the worst things that can happen to a business is theft – and it’s even worse if that theft comes from inside your company.

That’s why, if you suspect that an employee is stealing from your business, you might be tempted to immediately fire or confront them.

However, accusing someone of stealing is a serious allegation, which is why you need to ensure that you go through all the proper channels.

This post will give you some advice on what to do if you think someone is stealing from your company.

Investigate

As mentioned, you can’t just go around accusing people of theft, because it could backfire if you don’t know for sure that they are guilty. Besides, you might know for a fact that someone is stealing from your company, but that doesn’t mean that you have any idea who it is. Investigating the matter will answer these questions and more.

While you could certainly do an internal investigation, the problem is that you may not know who you can trust, which is why getting a professional to help you is a good idea. Have a look at this local private detective in Birmingham to see what services may be of use to you.

Talk to your employees

If you already know who is stealing from you, it might not be the best idea to confront them. You may end up saying things that you regret, and that could be used against you.

That being said, it might also not be the best idea to stay silent about the situation and to keep employees out of the loop. Therefore, it might be a good idea to have a meeting wherein you address the issue that is happening. You never know, some of your employees may have valuable information. Keep in mind that they may feel attacked and thus become defensive, so you should be prepared to resolve conflict.

Gather evidence

Knowing who is stealing from your business isn’t enough; you need to be able to prove it. Otherwise, it’s your word against theirs.

That’s why you should gather evidence. If you did end up hiring a private detective to investigate the case, they will likely have evidence that could help you prove who is guilty. You can also gather statements from other employees. Another option is to have your accountant look through financial records to try and find information that could serve as evidence.

Follow the proper steps

Once you know who the guilty party is and you have enough evidence to prove it, you can fire them. Of course, it’s not always that simple.

They may take you to court for wrongful termination. Or perhaps you will be the one taking them to court in an attempt to get the stolen money or items back. Even if you have enough evidence, you still need to consider getting a professional to help your case if you do end up going to court for whatever reason.

Finding a good attorney can help you win your case, just as a bad attorney could be the reason you lose it.